Cheltenham Festival 2019: Warren Greatrex sweet on Western Ryder for the County Hurdle
The high-class hurdler was found to be suffering from ulcers after his Haydock flop
WARREN Greatrex is sweet on Western Ryder for the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The high-class seven-year-old is one of 91 entries for the prestigious £100,000 handicap on 15 March.
Western Ryder has plenty of strong form to his name and will likely be towards the top of the weights off a mark of 150.
He has been placed in graded company three times already this campaign, though he was short of his best when third at Haydock most recently.
However, Greatrex revealed that the horse had excuses in that contest and he is expecting a much better run at the Festival.
Greatrex said: "All being well he will head to the County Hurdle.
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"He was found to have very bad ulcers after Haydock, where I fancied him to go close, and I'm pretty adamant he didn't run his race.
"He has been kept fresh for the County Hurdle.
"I think the fast-run two miles on the New Course will suit him and we know he has good form at Cheltenham and hopefully we can get him back on track.
"There will probably be something carrying more weight than him, but the weights are so compressed now he will not be giving lots of weight away."